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Chapter: The Hero’s Burden

“Your Star King!”

“Star King!! Please look here just once!!”

“Eek! He really looked! Those eyes are terrifying!”

“…”

The sharp cries and chaotic noise combined to give me an aching head.

“Star King!!”

“Star King–!! Just hold my hand once!”

Everywhere I looked, people surrounded me. The heat radiating from them swept around me, and they kept cheering.

Their enthusiasm was alarmingly intense.

“Star King–!!”

“No, no, can you please move aside a bit so I can get through….”

“Our hero!”

“Curse it.”

I wasn’t being directly touched, but there were so many people that I couldn’t move forward.

At this rate, I didn’t even know how long it would take to reach the Martial Alliance.

Should I push through or just fly away? The thought crossed my mind for a second, but—

“Star King…!! Thank you so much back then!”

“Thanks to you, we were able to save my mother…! Really, truly, thank you….”

“…”

I wanted to thank those who approached me, but my hand wouldn’t easily move.

‘Tsk.’

What should I do? Just as I was pondering deeply—

“Star King Oppa!”

Oppa…?

At the unexpected title, I glanced over to see a young girl waving her hand nearby.

She was riding on the back of an older man, presumably her father.

“Hello, Oppa!”

“You little…! What kind of disrespectful words are those to the Star King…!”

The father was aghast and tried to stop her, but the child merely smiled sweetly, showing the innocence of her age.

Who was she again?

Oh, I remembered.

She was the daughter I saved while passing by.

Her image stuck in my mind.

Recalling that moment, I couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “Hey, are you listening to your dad?”

“Yes!”

“Good, keep being good and listen to him.”

I never listened to mine, but that’s beside the point.

Since she was so close, I reached out and patted her head a few times.

This is fascinating.

‘I can’t believe there’s a kid who doesn’t cry when they see me.’

All the other kids would scream if I made eye contact. But this one seemed different.

She enjoyed my touch and reminded me of someone.

It was like seeing a younger Wi Seol-Ah.

‘Though she’s younger than I remember….’

As I continued to pat her head, her father finally spoke up.

“Thank you so much for what you did back then, Star King.”

“Uh-huh… yes….”

I gave an awkward smile. That blasted title still hadn’t settled in my ears.

I figured I’d never get used to it.

Jin Ryong felt the same, and so did So Yeomra.

“Thank you. If it hadn’t been for you, my daughter and I…”

“Don’t mention it. I just happened to pass by.”

I had to sweep up many people while spreading my Qi perception.

As I said back then, it wasn’t about a concept of saving. It was about managing the mess I created.

“No, no. It’s more than that. You actually remembered us.”

I had to chuckle at the man’s words.

“Remembering isn’t that hard.”

As I spoke, I pointed at someone.

It was an elderly man with plentiful wrinkles.

“Isn’t that the old man from the pharmacy?”

“Uh…? Oh, yes… that’s right.”

Upon being pointed at, the old man seemed startled.

Hearing that answer, I pointed at another person.

“And over there… that’s the lady from the upper house. Next to her is the gentleman from the Forge… and….”

One by one, I pointed out familiar faces.

“About that elder….”

I stopped mid-sentence, sensing something strange in the atmosphere.

“…What? What’s going on?”

Why do they all look like that?

“…You remember… all of them.”

Touched looks adorned their faces.

Seeing that made me break out in a cold sweat.

What are they doing, really?

‘Of course I remember.’

It wasn’t like I could recall every detail, I just identified the people I remembered. Is that a reaction worthy of such surprise?

“…It seems… you are indeed remarkable.”

As more people looked at me with admiration, one tried to say something more, immediately waving my hands.

“Okay, okay…! Everyone seems fine, so move aside. I have to go….”

“You are our hope, great lord…!”

“Star King…!!”

“I swear this is maddening.”

It didn’t seem like I would be finishing anytime soon.

So, I had to use a little power to break free.

‘My body isn’t even feeling well.’

Tsk! Just as I was about to leap—

“Make way—!”

A loud voice suddenly rang out from behind.

“Everyone, make way!”

All eyes turned towards that voice.

“Ugh!”

People began to be pushed aside, and through the forcibly parted crowd, a group emerged wearing blue martial robes with white embroidery, indicating they were from the Martial Alliance.

If it were a normal situation, everyone would have eagerly parted ways, welcoming them.

“…Isn’t that the alliance?”

“They’re from the Martial Alliance.”

The faces of those who gave way to the martial artists were not cheerful.

Some were resentful, some contemptuous, while many others wore expressions of discontent.

Seeing this made me nod slightly.

‘Seems like the situation is worse than expected.’

I had hoped there would be some skepticism, but the level of distrust was clearly much higher.

The members of the alliance seemed to sense the mood as they scowled and shouted at the crowd.

“This area is designated for restoration. Civilians are prohibited from entering!”

I looked around. Indeed, as that man said, the chaos was quite evident.

I had rushed out without thinking, but the buildings had collapsed, leaving debris everywhere.

In this situation, it was undeniably strange that so many people were gathered here.

Why were there so many people, anyway?

As I wondered, someone shouted in response to the martial artist’s words.

“Is all of Hanam under the alliance’s control!?”

“…What?”

The martial artist frowned at the outcry. It was almost as if saying, ‘How dare you raise your voice at me?’

However, others began to speak up, regardless of how he reacted.

“What makes you think you can arbitrarily restrict us from moving around?”

“Exactly! Even if you’re restoring it, let us take care of our own business. We’ll handle it ourselves.”

Realization hit me.

So that’s why they were gathered.

‘Are they trying to restore the area themselves?’

What do they think they can do about this massive chaos?

I didn’t quite understand, but one thing was certain.

‘Their trust in the alliance has severely diminished.’

It seemed like the view of the alliance from the people of Hanam had drastically worsened, possibly as an aftereffect of the incident.

“This…!”

The martial artist seemed ready to get angered, but—

“What do you want?”

I spoke up before he could.

“What do you mean, ‘what do you want’…?”

The man immediately raised his voice at me, but upon making eye contact, he clamped his mouth shut.

It seemed he knew who I was.

Which meant—

“You look like you have something to say to me. Am I wrong?”

He nodded as he cautiously approached through the way the people had given me.

Even as he drew closer, the stares of the crowd pierced him like arrows.

Once he reached me, he slightly bowed his head and spoke.

“I am Gi Munseok, Deputy Lord of the Cheongryong Clan. It is an honor to meet you, Star King.”

With his deep bow, I discerned his dissatisfaction even while showing respect.

Therefore, I replied, staring at the top of his head.

“Alright.”

“…!”

He seemed taken aback by my unexpected reply, immediately lifting his head.

His eyes were filled with disbelief, which I confirmed with a grin.

“Just kidding. I was just playing with you, thought I’d lighten the mood since you looked so tense. Sorry if it bothered you.”

“…Ah… no…”

He looked visibly irritated but hadn’t found the words to retort.

Seeing him, my mind suddenly drifted.

‘Gi Munseok, huh.’

Who was he again? I felt I had heard that name somewhere.

I tried hard to recall but nothing came to mind.

Anyway.

“What do you need me for?”

I asked, looking at Gi Munseok, and only then did he lift his head.

“I have come to escort you.”

“Me?”

“Yes…. I had sent a letter ahead, but perhaps you didn’t receive it?”

“Hmm?”

At that, I pulled out the letter from my robe.

I unfolded it again to check.

“Oh, indeed.”

It was definitely written there.

It stated that someone would come to escort me around this time.

I hadn’t noticed.

‘If I’d known, I wouldn’t have rushed out like this.’

Since the situation was so urgent, I just came out without thinking, but it turns out I could have taken my time.

‘But it was odd.’

It was true that I had received a letter from the alliance, but asking me to come straight away was pretty peculiar.

‘With the title they gave me, the service was a mess. I thought they were just trying to screw me over.’

They seemed ready to offer a proper service after all.

That only made me feel more disappointed.

‘A less-than-favorable position just got one less justification.’

I considered finding a way to poke fun at that when, unfortunately, the alliance, despite being incompetent, still wouldn’t act recklessly.

“…Regardless, we will be escorting you to the Alliance meeting this time.”

“Hmm.”

I thought about it for a moment then nodded.

There wasn’t really much to contemplate.

It was something I had to do anyway, and also it was easier to have someone to guide me.

This works out nicely.

I was already wondering how to break free from my current situation.

“Yes, let’s go then.”

As I declared my intention to leave, those around me displayed expressions of reluctance.

Why were they so disappointed, I wondered… but it couldn’t be helped.

After all, I was heading towards the alliance for the purpose of discussing the recent ambush incident.

 

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